Lisa Norden of Sweden outsprinted Emma Moffatt of Australia in a photo finish to take the Dextro Energy World Championship Series round four in Hamburg, Germany as both shared an equal official time of 1:53:53.
The race came down to a final lap sprint among seven women – Norden, Moffatt, Irish up and comer Aileen Morrison, Kate Roberts of South Africa, Vicky Holland of Great Britain, Andrea Hewitt of New Zealand and Laura Bennett of the United States.
With 100 meters to go, Norden and Moffatt surged ahead and the Swedish star out-leaned the 2009 ITU World Championship Series winner at the tape.
The win reversed their finish order last year at the 2009 WCS Grand Final on the Gold Coast of Australia and the 2009 World Championship Series season ending points championship, both won by Moffatt.
"This exceeded all of my expectations," Norden told ITU Media. "I came here just hoping for a top ten finish so I could score some world rankings points, but I really didn't expect to win. It's absolutely amazing."
With her runner-up finish, Moffatt takes over the lead in the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series Rankings, with three races left to decide the 2010 ITU World Champion.
"It's a little disappointing to come so close to winning, but I'm still really happy with second today," Moffatt told ITU media. "I didn't expect to be leading the Series after today, but it's a great surprise."
Ireland’s Morrison bested South African Kate Roberts for third place, 2 and 4 seconds back of the winner respectively. The win was a landmark podium finish for Morrison.
Vicky Holland of Great Britain was 5th, Andrea Hewitt of New Zealand 6th, Laura Bennett 11 seconds back in 7th and Sarah Groff 43 seconds back in 8th place as the top American finishers.
Three time ITU World Champion, 2008 Olympic champion, and recent Hy-Vee $200,000 winner Emma Snowsill of Australia suffered through an atrocious 51st place swim which left her well behind the lead bike packs. Despite a race-best 32:47 run that was 92 seconds faster than Norden’s, Snowsill had to be content with a disappointing 25th place finish 2:55 back of the winners.
The win elevated runner-up Moffatt – who has a 3rd at Sydney, a 3rd at Seoul, a 2nd at non-WCS Hy-Vee and 2nd at Hamburg to the 2010 World Championship Series lead by 4 points over rising Japanese star Mariko Adachi, who finished 12th on the day and previously posted a 4th at Sydney, 7th at Seoul and 4th at Madrid.
Norden, who had a 5th at Sydney and 13th at Seoul, advanced to 6th in the 2010 World Championship Series points standings.
Meanwhile, Barbara Riveros-Diaz of Chile took this race off and dropped to third in the points chase after a win at Sydney, 2nd at Seoul and a 6th at Madrid.
Dextro Energy World Championship Series Hamburg
Hamburg, Germany
July 18, 2010
S 1.5k/ B 40k/ R 10k
Results
Elite Women
1. Lisa Norden (SWE) 1:53:53
2. Emma Moffatt (AUS) 1:53:53
3. Aileen Morrison (IRL) 1:53:55
4. Kate Roberts (RSA) 1:53:57
5. Vicky Holland (GBR) 1:53:57
6. Andrea Hewitt (NZL) 1:53:59
7. Laura Bennett (USA) 1:54:04
8. Sarah Groff (USA) 1:54:36
9. Ainhoa Murua (ESP) 1:54:40
10. Felicity Abram (AUS) 1:54:58
12. Mariko Adachi (JPN) 1:55:10
20. Daniela Ryf (SUI) 1:56:11
23. Jenna Shoemaker (USA) 1:56:27
25. Emma Snowsill (AUS) 1:56:48
39. Jillian Peterson (USA) 1:59:37
49. Margaret Shapiro (USA) 2:02:20
2010 Dextro Energy World Championship Series Rankings - Women
1. Emma Moffatt (AUS) 2110
2. Mariko Adachi (JPN) 2106
3. Barbara Riveros-Diaz (CHI) 2082
4. Andrea Hewitt (NZL) 1868
5. Daniela Ryf (SUI) 1725
6. Lisa Norden (SWE) 1700
7. Jessica Harrison (FRA) 1622
8. Kate Roberts (RSA) 1514
9. Sarah Haskins (USA) 1447
10. Nicola Spirig (SUI) 1433
11. Helen Jenkins (GBR) 1383
18. Laura Bennett (USA) 791
20. Emma Snowsill (AUS) 665
21. Sarah Groff (USA) 661
27. Jillian Peterson (USA) 480
31. Jenna Shoemaker (USA) 393
60. Alicia Kaye (USA) 123
74. Jasmine Oeinck (USA) 48
